The Crusader News | Volume 74 | Issue I

The Crusader News Official Student Newspaper of St. Paul’s High School Volume 74 Issue 1

AMDG

Fall 2020

US ELECTION SPECIAL

The election is tomorrow. Who will win and why?

An update on the race, analysis, and opinion. Emmitt Wilson writes.

Police Brutality

LOS ANGELES LAKERS WIN NBA FINALS

Donovan Martin

Taylor Swift Returns Alec Compton

Blessed Carlo Acutis Myles Cesario

Mulan

Riley Wilcosh

Forrest Gump Riley Wilcosh

Xbox vs PS5 Jackson Gordon

Lakers beat the Miami Heat 106-93 in game 6. What does this mean for LeBron James’s legacy? Skyler Griffith writes.

Student Council

Maroon and White

Meet your brand-new president and vice-president

What is the Maroon and White’s mission and what fundraising plans are in store for this year?

Student Council President’s Introduction give back to the school. Matt Benjamin and I both intend to make this Brigg ’21 school year memorable for all grades. We understand that this Student Council year comes with some restricPresident tions in what we are able to do, but that’s not stopping us from being creative and adapting to new changes but also making the school safe. Our platform conHello students! I am Benjamin sists of a few major themes that Brigg and I am writing to you as we wish to bring to the school: your St. Paul’s Student Council inclusion of all grades, safety, President for the 2020-21 school and simplicity in our ideas, year. I ran, along with my runalong with creating ideas that are ning mate Matthew Kaul, under realistic and aren’t too far out of the campaign name of BMO reach. We have already begun (Ben and Matt Operation). We work on our first Spirit Week decided to run for council to coming up in the first week of

In Memoriam

Dr. Paul Adams ’42

Donald Leyden ’43

November where we want to include our scavenger hunt. We have also begun speaking to the administration about bringing back our two-dollar dress codes and have looked to move more away from supporting the activities that are not going on in the school and pivoting to more charitable efforts.

When it comes to leading the school, Matt and I both believe that we are the men for the job and want the student body to have trust in us. Both of us are Maroon and White members and are student athletes in the school who maintain high academic standards. We know how

to balance school and extra-curriculars, so we should have no problem with Student Council.

We both will have a lot on our plates this year as Seniors, but we are committed to putting the students before any personal gain. Also, we will have the help of our Council (which will be created this week) to provide more ideas and help even more to get the job done. The students of St. Paul’s need to understand that this is no normal year by any means, but we are excited to serve you and are ready to do whatever we can to make this school year memorable, in a good way, for everyone.

In November of 2019 and August of 2020 respectively, the first two Editors of the St. Paul’s College/High School student newspaper passed away. Both lived exemplary lives of service to the Church, family, country, profession, and community. Dr. Paul Adams ’42, who passed last fall, the first Editor, was a Second World War veteran, physician, a Knight of the Order of St. Gregory, husband to Louise, and

father of five. Donald Leyden ’43, who passed this August, was a Second World War veteran, celebrated athlete, social worker, husband to Rita, and father of four. The Crusader News expresses its gratitude for their founding vision and their examples of service as men for others.

AMDG

Update from the 2020-21 Maroon and White Society Myles Cesario ’21 President of the Maroon and White Society Hello St. Paul’s! I would like to introduce myself. My name is Myles Cesario and I am President of the Maroon and White Society. I help oversee the operations of the society and add my input on important decisions regarding places where the Society can help those in our community. I am simply another member of the Maroon

and White just called to carry on a little more responsibility.

I promise I will maintain this responsibility. The purpose of the Maroon and White—helping the less fortunate in any way we can—has never been more important. As President, I can say to you that the Society and its members will do their best in fulfilling this mission. We are all excited about the new experiences this year will bring, but that does not mean we can do it by ourselves. We are all called to be Maroon and White because being men for and with others is not just wearing a maroon jacket, it is service in action and it is love in action. Our first Mission

Week will be from November 23-27 in support of the House of Peace, a not-for-profit home for newcomer women in need.

We humbly ask you all to participate. Mission Week will happen regardless of which learning level the school implements. So, as we approach our first Mission Week in this global pandemic, let us remember that we do not have Mission Weeks just for fun but to support those who need our help.

As you know, the Maroon and White collected socks for the Main Street Project’s Socktober. I’d like to say a huge thank you to all those who participated in Socktober. From the members who collected socks, the PR committee, Socktober committee, to those who made announcements, to Mrs. Moore and finally to all students who so graciously donated socks. We had a resounding success, raising exactly 1,344 pairs of gently used and new socks. Thank you so much, St. Paul’s!

What’s the Problem with Cops?

Donovan Martin ’22 Deputy Editor

As the death of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and the hundreds of black lives lost under the hands of police brutality circulate in the media, demands of police reform and even abolishment follow suit. The most common phrase supporting these claims is “ACAB,” which stands for “All Cops Are Bastards.”

The exact origins of the term are unknown, yet it’s presumed to have arisen in the 1940s as workers on strike had aggressive encounters with the police. In the 70s, ACAB was used amidst the punk rebellion in protest of police controlling people’s way of being and livelihood. Now, the meaning of the term is mainly to combat the actions of police brutality, more specifically, against black lives.

Those who argue against the phrase ask “Is it truly possible for every cop to be bad?” “What about all the good things cops do?” “Wouldn’t society crumble without police?” To the first question, of course no single cop is directly responsible for every single case of police brutality.

However, they continue to support a system that turns a blind eye to injustices, even inside their departments. The few who do call out injustices are often fired, as was the case for Cariol Horne and Justin Hanners.

of people. Regardless of the good to over-police neighbourhoods they do, there are still countless of colour and are often overtacts of injustice. ly trigger-happy against black individuals. It is integral that the And with regard to the third time in police training acadequestion, police have been inter- mies be extended, that funds twined with society for years. In be removed and reallocated to a utopian society, there wouldn’t ensure citizen safety, and most be a need for police whatsoever. importantly, that cops be held An attempt at a police-free zone accountable for injustices and (the ‘Capitol Hill Autonomous brutality.

Zone’ or CHAZ) occurred in Seattle this year but did not end in success. Yet, to state that the police are a flawless institution is inherently false. Police continue

As for the second question, even if they are responsible for some good (preventing murders, catching thieves, etc.), it’s still evident that they are responsible for acts of brutality against hundreds, if not thousands

Taylor Swift Turns Back to her Roots for New Album strongest foot, however. The Alec opener “the 1” is a bit of a slog Compton ’22 and has some undesirable vocal lines and “Cardigan” is probably Arts & Culture the worst song on the record Editor with its clunky metaphor in which Taylor compares herself to a lover’s cardigan. This is disappointing as she uses metaphors Taylor Swift has had a very inter- so much better on a later track, esting character arc, outgrowing “Mirrorball.” Folklore then takes her acoustic sound to become a a turn in the right direction with fully-fledged pop-superstar, only the song “The Last Great Amerto return to an acoustic sound ican Dynasty”, a fun, groovy, on her latest record, Folklore. storytelling track that sounds The sudden tonal change from like something Lana Del Rey her bubblegum-pop record Lov- would create. This is followed er may have come as a surprise by a beautiful piano duet “Exile” for some, but recall that the title with Bon Iver, a track from the track from Lover was an acoustic perspectives of ex-lovers who ballad of sorts, and is one of the have different interpretations most successful songs from that on the end of their relationship. record. I predicted Taylor would On this track, Bon Iver drops his begin to toy around with more usual autotune-drenched vocals acoustic sounds. What I could in favour of a deep bass, which not foretell was just how comcompliments Taylor’s higher plete and worthwhile of a sonic vocals when they sing the outro venture Folklore would turn out together. The tracks “Seven” and to be.

“August” are both stellar songs.

Folklore does not start on the

After an interesting venture into the synth slow burner that is “Epiphany”, we get to my favorite song on the record, “Betty”.

“Betty” is the second song about the love triangle previously discussed on “August”. “Betty” is sung from the perspective of a 17-year-old boy named James, a meditation on his cheating behaviour, and an apology to Betty, his girlfriend for whom the song is named. Instrumentally, the song is a simple campfire guitar song with Bob Dylan-esque harmonicas laced into the track. The final two songs on the record are stripped back slow songs that end Folklore off quite nicely and serve as good closers

after the faster paced “Betty”.

I was skeptical going into this record, worried it would be a folk record only in name and quickly switch back to the dance pop Taylor is used to, but I was blown away with how cohesive, lush, and consistent the album is and thoroughly enjoyed it. 9/10

US Election Special Emmitt Wilson ’22 Politics Editor

Paths to Victory The two presidential candidates each have a vastly different path to victory in this election. Donald Trump has an incredibly consistent core voter base which composes about 35% of the total electorate and has continued to support him throughout his first term. His best path to victory is to lower overall voter turnout as much as possible, knowing that it will not affect his most loyal supporters. To this effect, Trump

has employed numerous tactics to lower the number of voters This includes attempting to exploit the split between Biden and the left wing of the Democratic Party who feel he does not represent them. Long-term Republican tactics such as purging voter rolls and closing polling stations to lengthen wait times will also likely play an important role in any election ending in a Trump victory.

For Joe Biden, the path to victory is the opposite. As of October

23 , Biden is ahead in national and statewide polls, meaning it is in his interest for as many people to vote as possible. Biden’s campaign has pushed for early voting and mail-in voting. As of October 21, more than 40 million votes have already been cast.

Biden appears to have learned from Hillary Clinton’s 2016 loss the lesson that Democratic candidates cannot just rely on pointing out the perceived flaws in their Republican opponents, but must also offer a real alternative to their policy.

Policy Positions

Donald Trump

Joe Biden

Republican

Democratic

Trade & Jobs: Biden’s policy regarding jobs is informed by the COVID-19 pandemic. It seeks promote recovery from the economic downturn with high investment in green infrastructure and manufacturing. Biden has been a vocal supporter of international trade deals such as NAFTA and the TPP.

Taxes: Biden claims that nobody earning less than 400,000 USD (525,280 CAD) will see their taxes increase under his administration but that he will increase the corporate and highest bracket income tax rate.

Immigration: Biden plans to reverse Trump’s immigration policies such as the border wall Climate & Energy: Biden has and detention camps, and to made climate change a key issue increase the ability for asylum in his campaign. He plans to set seekers to enter the country. a goal of net-zero emissions by He cites America’s status as “an 2050, with large investments in immigrant nation” and how green energy. His plan also inimmigration was vital in Americludes bringing the United States ca’s growth as the reason to allow back into the Paris Agreement, more immigration. the international agreement meant to lower carbon emisWelfare: Biden plans to build sions. on the Affordable Care Act by giving all Americans a public Foreign Policy: Biden claims that insurance option and increasing America has lost influence and health care tax credits. Biden its good reputation on the world also plans to give more emergenstage under President Trump, cy relief money to families and and he plans to remedy that by small businesses affected by the reinvigorating connections to pandemic.

America’s allies and supporting democracy around the world.

Trade & jobs: Trump believes in an America First policy towards international trade, with the stated goal of bringing jobs back to blue-collar American workers, especially in the industrial Midwest. He cites his renegotiation of NAFTA into the USMCA and the trade war with China as proof of his commitment to protecting trade and jobs.

Regulation: Trump believes that “excessive government red tape” is a barrier to economic growth and, therefore, he has worked to deregulate various sectors of the economy and promises to continue to do so.

Energy & Climate: Trump has broadly deregulated the energy industry and has removed restrictions meant to protect the climate, claiming they stifle economic growth. Trump disagrees with the scientific consensus on climate change.

in this, he has also raised military spending. Trump claims he will continue being tough with world leaders and negotiate better deals for America, especially working to raise the military spending of America’s allies.

Taxes: Trump and the Republican congress passed large tax cuts early in his presidency, and he has committed to not raising tax rates at any level.

Immigration: Trump has raised funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and allocated funds to build a border wall. He claims that illegal immigration is a large threat to American workers and only he can and will protect them.

Welfare: Trump made repealing the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) an important promise in his first term, and he continues to claim he will fulfill that promise and make healthcare more affordable. He also Foreign Policy: Trump continues plans to increase Veterans Affairs to run on the idea of removing funding.

US troops from the Middle East.

While he has found some success

US Election Special A Vacancy on the Supreme Court

McConnell and the Republican Party have reversed their course, deciding that appointing Amy Coney Barrett before the election is perfectly fine. This is indicative of the way that the Republican Party approaches political challenges, with an attitude of “the ends justify the means.”

Contrast this with the attitude of the Democratic Party, who pursue a moral high ground, refusing to filibuster Republican legislation or slow the process of confirming Barrett through legal processes. Because of this mentality, McConnell and Trump have filled the roster of federal judges at every level over the last four years. If Joe Biden wins the presidency, he could find the en-

tire judicial branch against him, a senate unwilling to appoint any new judges, and a Supreme Court that will stay conservative for decades to come.

As The Crusader News went to print, Amy Coney Barrett was confirmed by the Senate by a margin of 52-48.

than Donald Trump. Biden will do a far better job than Trump in all categories. When Biden was vice president with Obama, he Alec helped take the crumbled econCompton ’22 omy given to him by George W. Bush to the thriving economy Arts & Culture Americans experienced during Editor Obama’s second term (2013-17).

Trump used the upward trajectory given to him by Obama but couldn’t hold it, and the US Joe Biden was not my preferred now has the worst unemploypick in the Democratic primary. ment since the Great DepresIn fact, he was far from it. I do sion. Trump lies and says he not believe Joe Biden is fit to be was great for the economy, but president; I do, however, think all he did was ride Obama and he is infinitely more qualified Biden’s coattails and he couldn’t

even keep the trajectory going.

COVID-wise, Trump has completely fumbled both policy and image. He waited far too long to shut down travel to Europe, mishandled the lockdown, and promoted untested medical treatments such as hydroxychloroquine. Trump did all of this while posturing as a strongman by not wearing a mask and calling COVID a hoax. All of Trump’s supposed economic success means nothing as wealth inequality in America keeps growing and growing. The poor are getting poorer and the rich are getting richer. Biden promis-

es to raise taxes, but only on US citizens who make over 400,000 USD (525,280 CAD) yearly. Any Republicans complaining that Biden is going to raise their taxes are clearly misinformed, as only 1% of the population makes over that amount, contrary to Donald Trump Jr.’s claim that 82% of Americans would suffer higher taxes under Biden. While he wouldn’t be my personal choice for president, Joe Biden is the only chance we have of pushing the fascist, racist, homophobic lunatic that is the Donald out of office.

The Case for Donald Trump

during the coronavirus pandemic, they have already started to rebound as Trump’s handling of the pandemic was incredible.

Immediately when COVID-19 began to emerge, Trump shut down flights from China which greatly slowed the spread of the virus, allowing the American medical system to prepare for a surge in cases. The pandemic’s main effect in America was the loss of jobs. Though 20 million jobs were lost from February to April, there were 9 million jobs

gained from May to July and Trump will keep this number of new jobs rising just like he did before COVID arrived. Donald Trump clearly knows how the economy works and how to keep it running at even greater proportions than ever. He also can clearly handle stressful situations like COVID-19 with ease.

When he is elected for another four years, he will make America greater than it ever has been.

When conservative Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia died in February of 2016, Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell vowed to keep the seat open for the rest of the year, and potentially another four years, so a Republican president could fill his seat. President Obama’s nominee, Merrick Garland, was left without a vote for almost an entire year. Now in 2020, when Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, appointed by Democratic President Bill Clinton, died on September 18th (46 days before the election), Mitch

The Case for Joe Biden

Jackson Gordon ’22 Science & Tech Editor

Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States, is the

third most powerful person in the world according to Forbes.

During his presidency, Trump has used this power to achieve greatness. He immensely boosted the American economy and handled COVID-19 exquisitely.

During his first three years in office, Trump brought the unemployment rate down to 3.5%, the lowest it has been in 50 years.

The Dow Jones also hit record numbers under the Trump administration. Though these numbers have both declined

Supreme Court Nominee Amy Coney Barrett

The Future Patron Saint of the Internet? the Eucharist, Carlo loved Jesus Myles from the bottom of his heart all Cesario ’21 while being a witness to a world first learning of the influence of Religion Editor technology. Carlo was a religious young man who received Jesus in the form of Holy Communion every time he could. He would attend Eucharistic Ado“Our aim has to be the infinite ration and weekly confession; and not the finite. The Infinite he asked his parents to take him our homeland. We have always on pilgrimages to saints’ burial been expected in Heaven.” On places and sites of Eucharistic October 10, 2020, Carlo Acutis miracles. It was this devotion was beatified a Blessed in the that led to his mother’s converCatholic Church in Assisi, Italy. sion back to the faith. He would This is his story. drag his family to Mass every day. His parish priest even said, Born on May 3, 1991, in Lon“it was not his parents bringing don, Carlo moved to Milan a few the little boy to Mass, but it was months after his birth. At the he who managed to get himself age of 15, Carlo died of leukemia to Mass and to convince others but in the short span of his life to receive Communion daily.” he affected many people’s lives.

Carlo Acutis was mature for his From his love of the Rosary, to age in many ways, but he nev-

er lost his sense of childhood exploration.

As a child, Carlo enjoyed modern technology and games. He played on his PS2, albeit only “one hour a week, as a penance and a spiritual discipline.” Using that knowledge in technology, he created and updated websites for Catholic organizations.

This helped others to proclaim the faith far beyond what he could do by himself. In truth, his love of the Internet makes him unique in the Catholic Church. He is even dubbed “the patron saint of the Internet.”

After Carlo’s death, his cause for sainthood was brought before the Church, and in 2020 he was declared a blessed, one step away from being declared

a saint. When Carlo’s body was exhumed, his body was deemed ‘incorrupt’, meaning that the body did not decompose. His body remains in Assisi in a glass coffin where it is venerated.

“God places His saints where they will bring the most glory to Him, and we are totally incapable of judging where that may be.” We may never know where a “living saint” could be, but we do know that in this life we are not called to be extraordinary, not ordinary. Fight the good fight. There is no indication that this will be easy, but we must try.

Despite living with cancer, Carlo Acutis placed others—and most importantly God—before himself. Blessed Carlo Acutis, ora pro nobis!

The Battle of the Consoles: PS5 or Xbox?

Jackson Gordon ’22 Science & Tech Editor

The battle of the consoles is upon us. What to choose: the PS5 or one of the new Xboxes?

Both Microsoft and Sony are releasing new “next-generation” consoles in 2020. These consoles are already causing a stir with people who do not know which to choose. While for some this choice may be quick and simple, for others it may be a difficult task. The PS5 and Xbox Series S and X are all similar consoles, but each has its own purpose.

The first decision is whether

you want to support Microsoft or Sony. Sony has many great exclusive titles: God of War, Uncharted, Spider-Man, and The Last of Us, to name a few.

Microsoft, on the other hand, has Xbox Game Pass, a monthly game subscription service. If you have played many of these Sony exclusives before and know that you love them, then go with the PS, but if you think that you will not play any of these exclusives then you should definitely go with Microsoft.

disk drive will save you in the long run. Often game disks go on sale when their digital counterparts are still full price. Using disks also saves you the hassle of having to download a game on slow internet speeds and having to buy an external storage device in the future. Now, if you have chosen Microsoft as your company of choice, you have to choose between the low-budget Series S or the fully featured Series X. The Series X is more The Xbox is more powerful powerful than and is cheaper, for the budget the Series S and gamers. If you choose Sony, you includes a disk now have to choose if you want drive. While to spend the extra money for the the Series S disk drive. While it may seem may seem like like the digital version is a better the way to go, deal, buying the console with the the Series X

will last longer because of its more powerful hardware, and it will save you money in the long run. Why this might seem like a simple decision, it still may not be. Before buying any of these consoles, make sure to do your research and choose the one that best fits your needs.

Mulan? More Like MuYAWN! Riley Wilcosh ’22 Film Critic

more than a modest $69 million (even with COVID-19’s negative effect on ticket sales). So what went wrong?

I would definitely hate this movie if it hadn’t been for the 1998 version. My slight tolerance of the 2020 version is purely due to I was raised on movies like nostalgia. If I separate the movie Mulan. Who was my babysitter? from the legacy of the original, Cars. Who taught me sadness? it completely falls apart. First of The Fox and the Hound. And all, the writers edited the plot what was the most grandiose, way past what needed changawe-inspiring movie for me at ing. They got rid of one of the that time? Mulan. I loved the most intimidating villains in all original Mulan. It had Eddie of Disney, and downgraded to Murphy, Eddie Murphy, and a basic, Mongol-template wanmore Eddie Murphy (there aren’t nabe warlord. The side villain, a lot of well-known actors in the an enchantress, is horribly plain, original Mulan). But the score with some basic sob-story charwas great, the writing was witty acter development. They tried and intelligent, and the animato make her sympathetic and tion had a unique, idiosyncratic evil at the same time, but this feel to it. But then the remakes half-hearted attempt leaves beof these movies started flooding hind a basic and dull character. in. Movies that, with a few exYour movie can’t turn out well ceptions, were met with ridicule when the antagonists are low by critics and audiences alike. quality doppelgangers of Khal The live action Mulan could’ve Drogo and Maleficent. Mulan been so much more. Considerstays mostly the same, with a ing its budget of $200 million, little more cutthroat instinct and the film should’ve pulled in far some innate acrobatic skills, the

origins of which are never explained. Mulan has none of her previous musical talent, but a newfound abundance of sullen and bored expressions. Donnie Yen (of Rogue One and Ip Man) plays the commander who leads Mulan’s battalion, and along with Mulan herself, the movie is full of clichéd and stilted dialogue. This is a common occurrence throughout the movie; you don’t feel empathy for or attachment to any of these characters. They could win or lose, and no one would care either way.

dressing to a chicken salad that’s missing the chicken. The movie lacks substance, art, and vision.

It’s a thinly veiled attempt to try to recapture audiences’ nostalgia for the original. Neither the big studio nor that nostalgia is enough to push Mulan out of the red. 4.5/10

The thing that saves the movie from being a dumpster fire is its budget, and all the things that come with having a Disney-sized wallet. The costume design is outstanding, and the makeup is equally up to the task. The visual effects are adequate, though there isn’t a lot of need for it in a movie with a lot of practical stunts.

However, this is all salad

A Blast from the Past: Forrest Gump Riley Wilcosh ’22 Film Critic

Forrest Gump is a big movie.

Just saying the name “Forrest Gump” invokes the idea of a true trek and saga of a movie, a movie that you really have to sit down and commit to. A movie that’ll suck you in and take over your whole day. At least that was my first impression. Until I decided to review it, I’d never actually seen Forrest Gump. I just knew it was a big deal bucket list film, one that had dominated the 1995 Oscars in a year when movies such as The Lion King, Pulp Fiction and The Shawshank Redemption seemed poised to take home gold. It took three of the big five Oscars , winning best picture, best actor and best director. So I was intrigued.

What movie could dethrone one of the best movies of all time, my beloved Pulp Fiction? Such a movie would have to have a truly inspired premise to trump these undisputed classics. The plot rotates around our protagonist, Forrest Gump (played by Tom Hanks, the role that would rocket him to superstardom).

The key to the entire movie is Forrest’s intellect: he’s undeniably slow. He doesn’t fully comprehend social cues and the importance of the things that go on around him. This flaw serves to make Forrest a truly special

protagonist, as it gives him a childlike innocence.

He wanders through the 60s and 70s, stumbling through the biggest events of the era. He meets three presidents, goes to Communist China, fights in Vietnam, and exposes Watergate, amongst other historic events. Forrest’s involvement in history makes it truly entertaining. Forrest is undoubtedly a layered and interesting character. He doesn’t fully comprehend everything that is going on around him, but he still has an immense capacity for emotional depth. That, along with Hanks’s impressive range, allows him to be both a tragic and heart-warming lead while still peppering in moments of comedic relief.

Despite Forrest’s undeniable likability, the setting and cinematography are what I find most endearing. Every set, from the jungles of Vietnam to Forrest’s home in rural Alabama are bright and full of life, and the cinematography highlights this, allowing the backgrounds to speak for themselves while not beating us over the head with artsy and sophisticated shots. All of this, coupled with the whimsical score by Alan Silvestri makes it accessible and pleasing to anyone, from the casual viewer to the distinguishing critic. This film is deceptive.

It makes you think that it’s light and funny and you empathize deeply with the loveable protagonist, but then it sucker-punches you late in the movie as if as a punishment for your naiveté (no spoilers for that here). I heartily recommend Forrest Gump. Its whimsical nature is enthralling but it has a certain substantive nature to it.

8/10

LeBron’s Big Legacy? case of COVID-19 .

Skyler Griffith ’21 Sports Editor

Any enthusiastic NBA fan has their own opinion on who the league’s G.O.A.T. – or ‘Greatest of All Time’ – is. The two most common responses to the G.O.A.T. question are Michael Jordan and LeBron James. However, the amount of support for either NBA legend being the G.O.A.T. is nearly equal; there is no prominent winner in this debate . Although this unanswered question (which is arguably the league’s greatest mystery) may never have a clear answer, LeBron certainly presented a strong case for himself in this year’s NBA playoffs.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the NBA suspended its regular season on March 11, 2020.

Luckily, the league created an isolation zone at the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida. This NBA “bubble” received great success, as the remainder of the regular season and the entire playoffs were conducted without a single positive

LeBron, a four-time NBA MVP and 16-time NBA All-Star, guided the Los Angeles Lakers all the way to the 2020 NBA Finals alongside seven-time NBA All-Star Anthony Davis.

On their way to the Finals, the Lakers nearly swept the red-hot Portland Trailblazers (4-1), the stacked Houston Rockets (4-1), and the upstart Denver Nuggets (4-1) respectively. The Lakers also put on a show during the regular season. They finished 52-19, first in the Western Conference.

When they got to the Finals, the Lakers faced off against the Miami Heat. The Heat were led by five-time All-Star Jimmy Butler. Although Butler put on an enormously impressive individual Finals performance, averaging 26.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 9.8 assists per game, it was tough for him to keep up with LeBron, Davis, and the Lakers. Butler was surrounded by mostly young

A Message from the Editor Dear reader, James Brennan ’21 Chief Editor

The Crusader News is back! In 2020-21, we are continuing the long history of the paper by providing new editions twice each term.

Photo Credits

and inexperienced teammates who, despite showing potential, could not give him the assistance from a veteran sidekick he needed. Throughout the Finals, LeBron averaged 29.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game. Davis complemented LeBron’s powerful Finals performance, averaging 25.0 points and 10.7 rebounds.

The Lakers quickly climbed ahead in the series, winning the first two games. The Heat next secured their first win in game three, a game in which Butler scored 40 points. The Lakers answered back in game four, going up 3-1 in the series. Although the Lakers were only one win away from winning the title, the Heat kept their hopes alive in game five, tightening the series

to 3-2. But the Lakers clinched their 2020 championship in game six, closing out the series 4-2. LeBron had won his fourth NBA championship, as well as his fourth NBA Finals MVP Award.

The Crusader News is written by students, for students. Our aim is to provide quality news content that covers our school, our country, and our world. We wish to challenge the students to think deeply and consider the many things that affect their lives and the lives of others.

Do you have a great story about ancient Mongolian temples, Chilean barbecue recipes, or underwater swordfish fighting?

We are proud to announce that The Crusader News is now online as well! Find us at:

thecrusadernews.ca

Socktober: https://www.mainstreetproject.ca/main-street-projects-third-annual-socktober-campaign-is-here/ House of Peace: https://www.houseofpeace.ca/ Police: Wong Maye-E Taylor Swift Folklore: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fenSS68JI1h4Fo296JfGr?autoplay=true Biden: Scott Eisen/Getty Images Trump: Alex Brandon/AP Amy Coney Barrett: Caroline Brehman-Pool Carlo Acutis: @NoTrueScotist Carlo Acutis tomb: CNS photo/courtesy Diocese of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino Xbox and PS5: Sony/Microsoft Mulan Poster: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mulan_2020 Forrest Gump: Paramount Pictures LeBron James dribbling: https://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2020/02/07/lebron-james-lakers-rockets-dunk-videophoto NBA Finals: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Please bookmark this page and check it regularly to never miss out on new stories!

Also, we are searching for writers! For the fall edition, submissions were limited to existing team members, but in the future we’d love to hear from you!

AMDG

Although LeBron has not quite caught up to Michael Jordan’s six NBA championships and six Finals MVPs (an NBA record), he is in amazing shape for a 35-year-old about to begin his 18th NBA season. He even finished second in league MVP voting this year behind Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo. LeBron has plenty of gas left in the tank and shows no sign of slowing down. Fans can expect him to continue building his legacy for years to come.

Would you like to write about news in our school community?

Please send a message to me (brenj21@gocrusaders.ca) or Mr. Broadhurst (lbroadhurst@stpauls.mb.ca) or talk to us in person.

Considering there are fewer co-curricular options this year, we’d love to have you on our team!

Happy reading!